"What have you to do with us?" (Markl:24)

Sickness was a visible sign of sin in the Old Testament, a sickness without a remedy. Men who were sick were ostracized, could not be touched by good Jews. Sin or sickness could be found anywhere- in the synagogue with the man with unclean spirits or with anyone- Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, who was barren until old age. (Lukel:7) The perceived source of illness or sin was God's might or anger. Psalm 38 says in part: "Through your anger all my body is sin; through my sin there is no health in my body." The Law helped man to be righteous, to avoid sin or sickness. Sacrifice of calves and bulls were offered to God by the priests of the Law. Long incantations by seers were said over the sinner with sickness. These were insufficient.

Jesus changes everything. He sought out sinners; those with physical ailments sought him out, hoping for a cure. Jesus connected faith in Him and His Word to cure the sick; He not only cured them of their physical ailments, He cured them of the sins of their souls. The conscience of the law of their hearts replaced the outward law of the Pharisees. The law of love and mercy replaced the law of might "of the hand of God." The hand stretched out on the cross, the true power of God, was stronger than the judicial law of the Torah given to Moses. The Word spoken to Abraham through a cloud is now spoken with "authority" by the Son of God in person.

Man plays an active, participatory role in the drama of meeting with Jesus. Drama it is in its tension; sin and sinner meet Christ's love and power. Man recognizes Jesus; even the unclean spirit acknowledges Jesus as "the Holy One of God." "From the power of Christ, the devil convulses out of man." (Mkl:27) Jesus speaks from His own authority- the author of the Torah given to Moses. His word is His might. And everything changes. The Son of God is here with us.

“Quiet! Come out of him! (Mark1:25)

Temptation is always personal- designed by the evil one to attack our weaknesses. He attacks subtly, by suggestion that triggers our quick response toward wrongdoing. Temptation, the sorcerer, he is. It is like he has a magic key to the trunk where each one’s vulnerabilities are hidden. He knows just how to slip the key into the lock and then release one’s secret vices.

Man must know his weaknesses, the area where he is most vulnerable, then honestly acknowledge that which takes him away from Christ and His goodness. Understanding himself, man must humbly admit that by himself he is helpless in overcoming evil. Man’s will alone is insufficient, is not enough. Man must lean on Christ, the One who has shown man the Way, must put himself into “the hand of God”, into the shelter of His arms. Christ, who himself suffered and overcome every evil, the One who overpowered even death, He is our refuge.

Self-understanding begs for mercy; mercy from “the one who speaks with authority.” (Mk1:27) Christ is the one “who commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”(Mk1:27) His words are our power and strength. His words separate the evil one from us; His words forgive man of his sins. Christ’s words assuage our heart. Man must listen to Christ’s words. Christ is mercy that springs from love, supernatural love that is more powerful than evil, extraordinary love shown so openly on the cross. It is His love which gives man rest, peace and the power to overcome temptation, if we but ask and listen. To Him our voices are raised in adoration.

“What are you looking for?” (Jn1:37)

John the Baptist prepares the people with repentance and baptism of water. Andrew and another disciple are shown Jesus by John as “the Lamb of God”. They follow Jesus and He asks this question of them: “What are you looking for?” It is the same question Jesus asks of us. It is the same question all men must answer: what or who are you seeking?

Andrew was looking for “Rabbi” which translated means “Teacher.” ( Jn1:38 ) Immediately Andrew and the other disciple follow Jesus, learning “where he stayed” and who he was. Until one stays with someone, Someone is not known. Words are replaced with actions; the words seen by the world are replaced by actions shown in the privacy of one’s home. Brides and “brides of Christ” understand this axiom.

Andrew tells Peter, “We have found the Messiah” which is translated Christ.” ( Jn 1:41 ) Seeking a Teacher, they found the Word of God.

By their personal encounter with Jesus, Andrew and the other disciple met Jesus and followed immediately the One they had been seeking. They knew Peter, Andrew’s brother too had been seeking the Messiah. They brought Peter to Jesus who changed his name and a new role in accordance with God’s plan of salvation. Conversion brings change and choices.

Andrew, Peter and the other disciple could have answered, ”We are seeking more fish, more freedom, more immorality, more ease.” Each one has choices and Christ gives us the freedom to choose: to search for transitory things or to live for eternal life.

Faith is always a path; sometimes the longest, more crooked path is the one to within oneself, the one to our own heart and soul. Yet Christ is constantly calling us; we only have to have ears to hear and someone to tell us his Good News. We may be like Samuel, called four times in the night by God to begin his faith journey. We may have someone point the way to us like John the Baptist, or by a family member as Andrew did to his brother Peter. Then, we like Samuel can say, ”Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”(1Sam3:9) We have been prepared and are now ready to go forth and learn the heart and message of Jesus; “to stay with Him”. Our faith journey has begun; new and glorious changes are in our future.

“The Lord was baptized not to be cleansed himself,

but to cleanse the waters,

so that those waters,

cleansed by the flesh of Christ,

which knew no sin,

might have the power of Baptism.

St Ambrose

“On coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.” (Mk1:10)

Having celebrated Jesus’ birth, the Church moves to Christ’s baptism. We see Jesus born with love for man becoming human; he now submits himself to another, John: moving man toward His Father. He, who is without sin, is immersing himself into man’s sinfulness, and bringing man up to new life with the Father.

For Christ, his love for man and his desire for man to be united to the Father are never absent. He knows he will draw himself into death and will rise again to bring new life to man. He shares man’s lot and brings new meaning of life to man. Nothing is spared; all is given; love has no boundaries. He goes to extreme measures, giving His entire being to bring man above the waters to heaven, to unity with Love itself.

The heavens are opened to man. His baptism cleanses man from inglorious original sin. It is a new beginning, a new opportunity, a new sense of renewal, a new way for the Spirit to enter man’s heart: to begin man’s journey upward toward the Father.

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (Lk2:2

If Simeon and Anna represent Israel and their longing for God to reenter the temple, the Magi represent the Gentiles seeking God through the stars and planets. Simeon and Anna are the chosen people of God, His special people. The Magi use reason, astrology, intuition, in their search for God; by themselves they are unable to find “the newborn king of the Jews.”

Epiphany means to appear to people, all others beside Israel. Israel had a long tradition of God speaking to His chosen people. With the Law, Covenants, Prophets, Patriarchs, God had told Israel of Himself- His heart, mind and will. He had resided in their temple; sacrifice was offered to Him there. He was expected to come again to Israel.

Now He comes in their midst- the new temple, the new law, the new priest, the new sacrifice, to once more make man right with God- to make every man right with God. God and man meet in a personal relationship and through a Person, in fulfillment of all the tenets God had given Israel. The nation was to be a light for the world. Only through understanding the religious history could it be said where He could be found. Christ is the fulfillment of Israel’s hope; He is found only through the faith and hope God had given Israel. The Magi reveal the one who is the newborn king to the Gentile world.

The baby, Jesus, is the manifestation of God; God who is Love. It is He to whom “they prostrated themselves and gave him homage.” To the king they give gifts; signs of kingship, suffering, burial, which is to come. The darkness of night has been lit by the Star of Bethlehem, so all men might adore Him and be a light to the world, leading man to his eternal home by another way.